Have you ever felt creatively blocked? That awful sensation where your mind goes completely blank, ideas won't surface, and the canvas seems to just stare back at you in silence...

Don't worry—creativity isn't lost, it's just gone into hiding.

And when you learn how to seek it out, it always returns.

I'm Sara Alarcón, an artist and illustrator, and today I want to share the practical advice that has personally helped me reconnect with my inspiration and genuinely enjoy the creative process again.

Get ready to activate your creativity by embracing curiosity, intuition, and freedom.

The 9 Ways to Reawaken Your Creative Soul

1. Creativity Is Everywhere You Look

Creativity doesn't just live in art; it lives inside you, in your daily life.

You can find inspiration in a simple conversation, a new melody, a neighborhood walk, or even in a moment of silence.

2. Embrace the Creative Chaos

Art doesn't always start with a neat plan.

Many times, chaos is the real starting point for creation.

I often paint directly onto the canvas without preliminary sketches. I let the color guide me and allow my "mistakes" to teach me. And in that beautiful chaos, I discover new forms and emotions.

3. Walk (Phone-Free!) for Instant Inspiration

Walking without distractions is one of the most powerful ways to reconnect with your buried ideas.

Even Steve Jobs famously held his meetings while walking—movement naturally stimulates the mind.

4. Do Something Completely Different

When you feel stuck, hit the pause button and change your pace.

For example, I'll cook, read a book, or just watch the birds outside my studio window.

Switching activities gives your mind a necessary break and completely refreshes your creative outlook.

5. Surround Yourself with Creative People and Spaces

Creativity is absolutely contagious.

Spend time around people, books, and environments that actively inspire you to create.

I recommend a social media detox. Clean up your feeds. Follow accounts that genuinely bring you art, beauty, and inspiration. Your immediate environment influences you more than you can imagine.

6. Live in the Present (and Enjoy the Journey)

When you focus too much on the final result, you lose the enjoyment of the "now."

And creativity can only exist in the present moment.

7. Limitation is Your Best Freedom

Having too many options can actually be paralyzing.

In contrast, when you limit your resources, you force yourself to expand your ingenuity.

8. Create Without Seeking Approval

One of the greatest creative roadblocks is the fear of being judged.

For years, I was afraid to show my paintings until I understood one simple truth: You don't need anyone's permission to create what you love.

☕ "Take a look at my hand-painted mug from El Carmen de Viboral: it's perfectly imperfect, but it's mine. And I love it."

9. Art Doesn't Always Have to Be Your Favorite

It's true! Some of the pieces I liked the least ended up being the ones that connected most deeply with my audience.

This taught me that art has a life of its own.

Sometimes, what you don't see as "perfect," is profoundly inspiring to someone else. That is the power of art: it's unpredictable, subjective, and full of soul.

💡 Two Bonus Tips from a Creative Friend

• Be passionate about something, even if others don't understand it. Genuine passion is always felt, and it absolutely shines through in what you create.
• Don't look for problems and solutions: look for possibilities. Creativity doesn't repair; it expands. Imagine without limits.

A Gift for You: "The Creative Act" by Rick Rubin

This book completely transformed the way I view art and the process of creation.

Rick Rubin teaches that:

• We are channels, not owners, of creativity.
• Not knowing is an advantage—it opens up space for curiosity.
• Creating is an act of faith: trust the process, even without guarantees.

If you are looking to reconnect with your creative core, this book will be your best companion.

Creativity doesn't vanish; it simply transforms.

And every single person, without exception, carries it within them.

You just need to observe, allow yourself to flow, and believe in the process.

Because when you create from the soul, you don't just make art... you create something truly worthy of being collected.